After dropping the second game of a three-game set in extra innings last night, 2-1, the Tampa Bay Rays look to win the series this afternoon.
At 85-70 on the season, the Rays enter play 15 games above .500, maintaining the second American League Wildcard spot by 0.5 games ahead of Seattle (1.5 games behind Toronto). With Baltimore playing earlier in the day, an Orioles loss would move Tampa Bay’s magic number down to one before the start of this afternoon’s contest in Cleveland.
Tyler Glasnow made his season debut on Wednesday and allowed one earned run on two hits (including a homer) and a walk while striking out three across three innings against the Guardians. Glasnow threw 50 pitches (32 strikes, 64% strike rate). He topped out at 99.4 mph on his fastball and averaged 98.1 mph — which would be his highest velocity across an entire season. The right-hander recorded his first strikeout in the second inning on an 84 mph cut-slider that ran down and in to Josh Naylor. His only blemish came in that inning when he missed on a fastball that Gabriel Arias turned on for his first career home run. Glasnow is expected to make another start before the close of the regular season and figures to serve a prominent role in the Rays’ postseason run.
The New What Next
Jeffrey Springs (9-4, 2.56 ERA) will get the start in the series finale, pitching opposite Cal Quantrill (14-5, 3.49 ERA).
Jeffrey Springs got the start Friday, although he exited after five innings of work after giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits. Staked to a three-run lead in the fifth, Springs — who previously held Toronto scoreless across two starts this season — gave up back-to-back doubles to Teoscar Hernandez and Raimel Tapia. After a fly-out, Springs walked Danny Jansen. After getting Goerge Springer to strikeout, the hurler served up three consecutive singles, all driving in a run to put the Jays up by a run, if but temporarily. On the season, Springs now maintains a 2.56 ERA and 3.35 FIP, with a 4.53 K/BB, and a 1.10 WHIP across 126.1 innings. Springs surrendered three runs on six hits (including a home run) across five innings in his previous start against Cleveland.
Cal Quantrill allowed one run on five hits over six innings against the Rangers on Friday. He struck out four and walked three. Quantrill was solid for six frames outside of a solo home run he served up to Marcus Semien in the third. The right-hander did walk two batters in the fifth inning but managed to escape without allowing any damage. Quantrill has now won his last 10 decisions and has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his last seven starts. He maintains a 3.49 ERA and a 4.26 FIP on the season, with a 1.24 WHIP, and a 2.55 K/BB, over 175.1 innings. Quantrill relies primarily on an 89 mph cutter that has some natural sink and a 94 mph sinker that has a little natural sink, while also mixing in a 94 mph four-seam fastball, and a firm 85 mph changeup. Key Matchups: Christian Bethancourt (1-3, 2B), Yandy Díaz (2-3, 3B), Wander Franco (1-3), David Peralta (2-2), José Siri (2-2, 2B)
You can read about the series in our preview, while the starting lineup is below.
Rays 9/29/22 Starting Lineup
- Aranda 2B
- Arozarena RF
- Franco SS
- Ramírez DH
- Peralta LF
- Margot CF
- Choi 1B
- Paredes 3B
- Mejía C
Noteworthiness
— The Rays are expected to promote Easton McGee today; figure he’ll likely pitch in tandem with starter Jeffrey Springs. McGee is regarded to have the best command across all of the minors, boasting a 1.6 BB/9, placing him in the 99th percentile. McGee has a deep arsenal, and he relies on a low 90’s heavy sinker/two-seam fastball, a changeup which he tunnels with his sinker, and a sweeping slider. He also has a cutter and a four-seam fastball.